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Recently, a well known Green sent me an email that included the
following: <br>
<blockquote type="cite">It seems to me that you are one of the most
<br>
motivated people I know on the issue of <br>
Climate Change. But there are many people <br>
who are aware and concerned about climate <br>
change, but find reasons to do nothing. </blockquote>
<br>
If I could magically fix that, it would have been done already.
However, that comment did make me give the subject some thought.
This is, in part, what I responded. <br>
<br>
____<br>
There are only a very few issues that will truly determine whether
or not we survive as a species or under what conditions that will
be. Climate Change and nuclear proliferation are at the top of the
list. There are many other issues which are important, though to a
lesser degree:. <br>
<ul>
<li>finding an alternative to Growth and Capitalism are necessary,
but again curbing growth is linked to climate and we (Greens)
don't have any agreement as to an alternative to Capitalism and
Socialism is as dependent on growth as is Capitalism. </li>
<li>taking corporate or anonymous money out of politics is
important, but mainly as a tactic in dealing with climate
change. This makes CA Disclose Act and Move to Amend very
important steps that must be taken.</li>
<li>getting the insurance corporate profit line out of and every
patient in to health care is important, but if we want to truly
reduce the costs of health care, we will find ways to prevent
illness to begin with... and climate change means new diseases
will hit populations genetically unprepared to deal with them.
According to economists from CSU - Fullerton, air pollution
costs the CA economy some $29 billion / yr. That is just a
starter to show the scope of the problems to come. <br>
</li>
<li>our one guarantee is that the Keysont XL Pipeline will be
built and US Coal will feed China's power generation, all in the
name of government support of US jobs, economy. It makes not a
whit of difference whether Obama of Romney win the presidency.
It seems that the only governmental organization that is acting
as if they truly understand the implications of uncontrolled
climate change is the US Military. At least, they are switching
to renewables when and where they can as well as analyzing every
scenario that they can imagine. Meanwhile, Obama does nothing
and Ryan considers clean energy to be a "fad". <br>
</li>
</ul>
The only hope, as far off as it might be, is for a Green Presidency
and Greens / Independents as swing votes in Congress. Even McKibben
and 350.org refrain from criticizing Obama as he deserves and so he
gets a free pass.<br>
__<br>
We all know the many things that could have been added to the list.
What will we do about imigration when other countries become
inhabitable? Given the current ruckus over tax policy, how will we
fund adaptation when city after city, from South Beach (FL) to
Laguna Beach (CA) become inhabitable? How will CA residents find
water when sea levels rise to the point that the intakes for the
Aqueducts are below sea level? What will all of the peace activists
do to prevent violence when hundreds of million of people are forced
to migrate to other lands as theirs disappear?<br>
<br>
And how do we do any of this when one political party make climate
change denial a litmus test for electoral success?<br>
<br>
I have a certain level of frustration in that most people do not
share my sense of urgency. I am not sure what to do about that. But
if there is one issue that should be at the top of all Green
agendas, this is it. <br>
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